Sharon Regan, current chairwoman of the Santa Rosa County Republican Executive Committee (REC). Photo courtesy Walton County REC.
After the legality of a minimum $1,000 donation to participate was questioned, the Santa Rosa County Republican Executive Committee (REC), refunded some, if not all, candidate contributions paid to the group, which organized a Dec. 9 political forum in Navarre.
The controversy arose because Florida’s campaign finance laws state: “No person shall pay money or give anything of value for the privilege of speaking at a political meeting in the furtherance of his or her candidacy.”
The invitation to the Republican candidates stated: “A minimum donation of $1000 will be gratefully accepted from each serious Candidate to participate in this Opportunity for Voter Engagement and earned Publicity,” stated the invitation. “The Primary Election is less than 60 DAYS away – please take advantage of this Forum to share YOUR CAMPAIGN MESSAGE with CD-1 REPUBLICAN VOTERS.”
Eight Republican candidates in the race to replace former U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz participated in the event. At this time it is unknown how many of them paid to participate and how many of those who did pay have been refunded.
Candidate John Mills told South Santa Rosa News he was stopped when entering the forum and asked if he had paid the fee yet. Subsequently, he wrote a check to participate, believing it was required.
Candidate Michael Dylan Thomas said he also paid but received a refund. Thomas also told South Santa Rosa News that he “saw them cut the ($2,000) check” to pay the venue.
One candidate, Jeff Macey, said he did not participate because of the minimum donation and provided this statement:
“I knew when I was qualifying as a candidate for the special election it would be a surprise to many and I would see a wave of attempts to exploit me. Such things are my specialty, so when I received the town hall invitation it was an obvious shake down. A ‘minimum donation’ is a fee, and the insulting tone saying if it was not paid I wasn’t considered ‘serious candidate’ was corrupt, and such corruption must call exposed. A voicemail left by [Sharon Regan] said they would ‘tag-team’ me with harassment until they got their ‘donation…They made everything sound as if I were on the tracks and needed to attend the event to avoid the oncoming train. The organizers just did not understand that I am the train, and I am serious.”
It’s not the first time the Santa Rosa REC has sparked controversy since Regan and others from Gulf Coast Patriots, including but not limited to Patty Burke, infiltrated the group:
- REC Member George Oedsma was charged with stealing a Republican candidate’s campaign sign before the Aug. 20, 2024 primary;
- REC Members Donna Long and George Oedsma were trespassed from a venue earlier this year after taking photos and being asked to leave the property but not doing so;
- REC Member Pam Mitchell, who lost a 2018 bid for Milton City Council, had to be escorted from an April 9, 2024 council meeting after repeatedly disrupting council discussion;
- REC Member and former Santa Rosa County Republican Committeeman David Farrow, who lost his re-election to that position this year, during a 2023 Milton City Council meeting said “I’d love to just ram my fist in your face” to a Republican Council Member;
- Additionally, multiple Santa Rosa REC Members publicly advocated for a non-GOP candidate after the Aug. 20, 2024 primary, action which appear to go against the REC oath and upset local Republicans.
